The Manx debut of the folk band Faustus at the Centenary Centre in Peel proved beyond doubt how English folk music has evolved in recent years, as the all-male line-up produced a seemingly endless supply of songs and tunes which left the capacity audience gasping for more.
Judging by everyone's reaction the devil had a busy night, as we all sold our souls for the pleasure of listening to a range of music which criss-crossed a number of English counties and devolved seamlessly to an Island which rejoices in its own unique musical heritage.
Benji Kirkpatrick, Saul Rose and Paul Sartin are also involved with a number of well-known groups (Waterson:Carthy, Whapweazel, Seth Lakeman Band, Bellowhead and Belshazzar's Feast), but their combined efforts as Faustus released a powerful expression of emotion; taking dyed in the wool songs and making them very much their own.
Their professionalism and dedication to the genre shone through as a beacon in the wilderness, rending asunder the historical image of English folk music and launching a thoroughly contemporary expression of some classical compositions.
But prior to their performance, the evening kicked off with local singer/songwriter Greg Joughin, who presented a selection of retrospective arrangements which lingered sensitively on some of the more poignant aspects of life.
Well known for his long-term association with The Mollag Band, on this occasion Greg was working as a solo artiste which gave members of the audience an opportunity to hear his self-penned work from an unadorned perspective.
